A bit random!

Looking briefly at the difference between luck and skill games and hybrids.

Games like the ancient favourite - Chess evolve no luck whatsoever and a set "army" so no player has an unfair advantage over the other. On the other hand you might have a game like snakes & ladders, being a simpler game but based entirely on luck.

Some selections will be better than others.

Games involving only skill and judgement are very common and very old, chess is a prime example of this type of game. In each game of chess no player has an advantage (as long as their opponent knows the rules) and only decisions made by a player can effect the game. There are no random elements like die rolling that can augment or indeed scupper an action. Each player begins with the same "list" and knows exactly what they are going to face. In short the game is won or lost entirely dependent upon your decisions and actions, a killing move will not be foiled by an unlucky roll, only by a more tactically minded opponent.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have games based completely on luck. The traditional game of snakes and ladders is a good example of this. Again no player has any advantage (if they roll dice to see who goes first) and unlike chess, none of the players can influence their random chances of winning the game.

Then we have the bit in the middle . . .

Although this isn't a "bit" it's a vast collection of games, untold thousands of games with a vast array of options from "list building" where you normally select the forces or equipment that you are going to use and then how and where (or when) you plan to deploy your chosen list, deck or army. Then there is more often than not, a random element to the game too, a soldier might need to roll 4 or more to hit their target, an Eldrazi monster will need to be selected at random from a deck of cards.

In order to be successful at many modern games, you will have to select your forces carefully, choosing units or characters that may augment or compliment each other. Many abilities that particular units have will bolster other units or have detrimental effects on opposing forces.

Then after selecting your choice of forces, you will need to deploy them and maneuver them in an effective manor. A powerful and heavily armed spaceship will not prevail if piloted badly and it may soon be outmaneuvered and destroyed by a lesser ship flown by the better pilot.

Then there is the random bit. A great many games feature a random element, it might be quite insignificant or it might be a major part of the game. Often this will evolve regular dice, sometimes custom or specialist dice. Another popular mechanic is cards, these will invariably be shuffled to introduce randomness. Normally this is introduced to represent strengths and weaknesses amongst your troops. Your soldier has been expertly moved forward to take that headshot, aims, pulls the trigger - then you roll a 1 - what can you do?

So all you have to do is select the best ship for the job, fly it proficiently and be lucky with the dice rolls.

Or at least - better than the other guy!